Mopar Drum Brake Wheel Cylinder Rebuild

These days we're all looking for ways to save money, and when it comes to our cars we can usually accomplish this goal by performing routine maintenance. And while the mechanical jobs you're comfortable performing can depend on your individual experience, mechanical skills, and tools, most of us generally consider tasks like oil changes, lubricating the suspension, and replacing brake pads and shoes within our realm of mechanical ability.

2/8It's tempting to buy new parts to repair your Mopar, but these days it makes sense to rebuild rather than replace. This month we'll show you how to rebuild your drum brake wheel cylinders yourself for less than a third of the part's store price for rebuilt units.

Nearly all Mopar muscle cars were equipped with drum brakes, at least on the rear, and since brakes by their function are designed to wear, drum brakes will need routine service to function properly. This service generally means replacing the brake shoes and perhaps having the drums turned on a brake lathe, but can also include replacing or rebuilding the individual wheel cylinders. If you're like us you have more time than money, and that's why you're performing the brake job on your Mopar yourself.

This may seem like a lot of work when rebuilt wheel cylinders only cost about 20 or 30 bucks for most Mopars, but as Ben Franklin said, "Watch the pennies. Dollars will take care of themselves." Wheel cylinder rebuild kits cost less than $10 per cylinder, saving a total of some 50 bucks over the cost of rebuilt units. This month we'll show you how easy wheel cylinders are to rebuild, and you can take your family to a nice dinner with the money you save.